"The Merry Wives of Windsor" is one of Shakespeare's most enduring comedies, featuring his recurring 'fat knight'
character Sir John Falstaff. The entire cast includes:
Sir John Falstaff - physically huge, stunningly amoral, lechorous, gluttonous, cowardly, the embodiment of the 7 deadly sins, dishonest to the world, but true to himself
Fenton - young, romantic lead, courtly & suave. unlike the other Windsorites who speak in prose, he speaks in verse which casts suspicion upon him
Shallow - a garrulous old man & the local country justice. Perceives himself to be sophisticated, but is actually quite gullible. Resents Falstaff's higher social position.
Slender - Shallow's nephew, dimwitted suitor to Anne Page. Physically thin, mentally thin, lacking in self-reliance. Championed by Anne's father because of his wealth & status.
Frank Ford - Jealous husband of Alice Ford, moderately prosperous, given to mistrust & anxiety, a glass half empty guy.
George Page - Trusting husband to Meg Page, confidant in his wife's fidelity, father to Anne, consistantly mild & cheerful, a glass half full guy.
Sir Hugh Evans - Welsh clergyman & schoolmaster, a peaceable busybody, integral to the town but somewhat ostracized because of nis bizarre accent. Perceived as being a bumpkin by the metropolitan Falstaff.
Dr. Caius - French physician, Alice Pag's misguided choice as suitor to her daughter. Wealthy & prestigious, but bad-tempered, aggressive, obnoxious.
Alice Ford - Wife to Frank Ford, feels insulted by the unwanted solicitations of Falstaff and serves as bait in the plot to humiliate Falstaff.
Meg Page - Wife to George Page, mother of Anne. Honest & forthright, also appalled by Falstaff's lecherous attentions
Anne Page - Marrigeable young woman, pursued by Slender, Caius & Fenton. Demure but with the good sense to sort thru her unsuitable suitors.
Mistress Quickly - Housekeeper to Dr. Caius, simultaneously shrewd & foolish. Given to the misuse of fancy words & misinterpreting other people's speeches.
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